Likert School Success Self-Assessment Pre/Post (10-item Rubric)

Use this self-assessment to gauge students’ beliefs about effort, learning from mistakes, and mindset. Students rate each statement on a scale of 1–5, where:

1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neutral 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree

Mistakes Help Me Grow Card Sort

In this activity, students work in pairs to match fixed-mindset statements with growth-mindset reframes.

Materials (per pair):

• A set of Fixed Mindset Statement cards
• A set of Growth Mindset Reframe cards
• Scissors (to cut apart cards)

Instructions:

1. Cut apart all cards so each statement is on its own card.
2. Shuffle all cards and place them face down in two piles: one labeled Fixed Mindset and one labeled Growth Reframe.
3. Take one Fixed card and find the matching Growth card that rephrases it into a growth mindset.
4. Lay matched pairs side by side.
5. When all cards are matched, review each pair together and explain why the reframe shows a growth mindset.
6. Be ready to share one of your favorite reframes with the class.

Fixed Mindset Statements

• “I can’t do this.”
• “This is too hard for me.”
• “I made a mistake; I’m not good at this.”
• “I’m not smart enough to figure this out.”
• “I’ll never get this right.”
• “I give up; it’s too challenging.”

Growth Mindset Reframe Statements

• “I can’t do this yet; I’ll keep practicing.”
• “This is challenging, but I can learn with effort.”
• “Mistakes help me learn; I’ll try another way.”
• “I’m learning; I can improve with practice.”
• “I’ll keep working until I figure it out.”
• “I can ask for help and keep trying.”

My Growth Strategy Menu

When you face a challenge, you can choose from these strategies to help your brain grow stronger.

Choose two strategies you will try this week. Then fill in the boxes below to explain your plan.

Strategy Options

• Ask for help from a friend or teacher
• Try a new strategy or tool
• Take a short break and breathe
• Use positive self-talk (encouraging words)
• Set a small, achievable goal
• Review what’s worked for you before

Strategy 1

Which strategy will you use?

Why did you choose this strategy?

When and how will you use it this week?

Strategy 2

Which strategy will you use?

Why did you choose this strategy?

When and how will you use it this week?

Keep this menu visible in your workspace or notebook. Check off each strategy after you try it and reflect on how it helped you learn!

Discussion: Effort vs. Talent Scenarios

In this discussion, you will explore different situations to see how effort and talent play a role in learning. Work in small groups of 3–4 students.

Group Instructions

1. Read each scenario aloud.
2. Discuss these questions for each scenario:
   • Is the person showing a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?
   • What clues in their thoughts or words helped you decide?
   • How could they use effort-based strategies to think or act differently?
3. Be ready to share your ideas with the whole class.

Scenario 1: The Soccer Try-Out

Maria loves soccer and has played since she was very young. At try-outs, she makes a few mistakes when dribbling. She thinks, “I’m just not cut out for soccer. Some kids are born good at this, and I’m not one of them.”

Scenario 2: The Piano Practice

Jamal is learning a new piano piece that has lots of fast notes. He practices one small section every day. Even when he messes up, he says to himself, “Each mistake is a chance to figure out exactly where I need more work.”

Scenario 3: The Math Challenge

Lina finds division hard. When she sees a tough problem, she often says, “I’m terrible at math,” and closes her workbook. She never checks her notes or asks for help.

Scenario 4: The Art Project

Tyler is designing a poster and isn’t happy with his first sketch. He crumples the paper and says, “This is ugly. I’ll never be creative.” Then he starts a fresh page and writes, “Let me try using bright colors and a new shape.”

Discussion Questions

1. Which scenarios show a fixed mindset? Which show a growth mindset?
2. In each fixed-mindset example, what could the person say instead to shift to a growth mindset?
3. Why is effort important even if someone has natural talent?
4. How can using positive self-talk and asking for help make challenges easier to face?
5. What strategy from the My Growth Strategy Menu would you recommend to each person?

Follow-Up Points

• Remind students that everyone starts somewhere—effort helps us improve over time.
• Emphasize that mistakes are evidence we’re trying, and they help our brains grow.
• Highlight how self-talk (“I can’t do this yet”) changes how we feel and act.
• Encourage sharing personal examples of when effort led to success.

Today My Brain Grew Reflection

Congratulations on powering up your mindset today! Use this journal to think deeply about what you learned, how you grew, and how you’ll keep using your mindset powers.

1. Describe one moment today when you noticed a shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. What did you say or think differently?

1. Think of a mistake you made or a challenge you faced during today’s lesson. How did reframing that mistake help you learn?

1. Which growth strategy from the My Growth Strategy Menu did you use today? Explain when and how you used it, and what happened.

1. What is one goal you have for using a growth strategy tomorrow? How will you remind yourself to use it?

1. Why do you think making mistakes is important for learning? Write an encouraging message to yourself about this idea.